West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(View from Luna/Anchor Park last Wednesday, photographed by James Tilley)
Here’s the list for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
HOLIDAY PHOTO POP-UP: 8:30 am-2 pm, sessions with Gail Ann Photography at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), details including booking link in our calendar listing.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s lineup here.
GET-TOGETHER FOR GIRLS INTERESTED IN LACROSSE: 9:30 am-11 am at 30th/Thistle field – details in our calendar listing.
SANTA AT MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: 10 am-noon, Santa will be at this Junction shop. “No charge. Families can take their own photos. Please bring diapers for WestSide Baby if you wish to donate. We are also doing a diaper drive that day.” (4736 California SW)
COATS, COCOA, GARLANDS, MUGS: Visit the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays tent at the south end of the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm. Bring a coat to donate, enjoy hot cocoa, buy garlands and/or Hometown Holidays commemorative mugs.
(California/Alaska)
FARMERS’ MARKET: As usual, 10 am-2 pm, the market itself offers fall produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.
FUNDRAISING WREATH (ETC.) SALES: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and students will be selling their handmade wreaths again today by KeyBank in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm today:
Pathfinder K-8 PTSA is holding our 27th annual wreath fundraiser to benefit outdoor education at Pathfinder K-8 School after a 2-year hiatus. Last week was a huge success and this week we’re so excited to bring you more Door Decor – wreaths and other holiday swag. Everything is 100% unique and made from foraged materials from our yards and tree lots (thank you, Trees by the Sea on Alki!). This year’s selection will be some of our best including some super-modern designs!
Have a hot lead on fallen branches or other supplies we can use in our creations? Email kathleen.hynes@me.com and bae.jungun@gmail.com
Thank you for supporting the kids at Pathfinder School!
PET SUPPLIES PLUS GRAND OPENING: At Westwood Village, the new shop celebrates its grand opening all weekend and is sponsoring WSB again today to be sure you know. Open 10 am-6 pm today.
PIZZA FUNDRAISER: Get food at or from MOD Pizza-Westwood Village today (open 10:30 am-10 pm) during a dine-out fundraiser benefiting Denny-Sealth Performing Arts – code and details are in our calendar listing.
NWAA HOLIDAY CONCERT: Chorus with members from West Seattle performs at 2 pm again today at Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien (401 S. 152nd).
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Today at 3 pm, it’s the third matinée for “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: Also at 3 pm, it’s the first matinée for the Twelfth Night Productions presentation of The Lux Radio Theater version of the classic 1947 film, performed at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – ticket info and other details on the TNP website.
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), the trio Citizens of Earth plays. No cover.
WEST SEATTLE CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) CLUB: Also at C & P starting at 3, you’re invited to this month’s gathering – see our calendar listing for topic and other details.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
SOFAR SOUNDS: Live music at YogaSix West Seattle (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW):
Sofar Sounds is hosting their first event in West Seattle this Sunday, December 11th at YogaSix West Seattle! Use the discount code SOFARSPACES15 for 15% off $27 tickets. Space is limited for this intimate live music event, which will feature 2-3 surprise artists performing 20-25 minute sets between 8-10 pm. Doors open at 7:30 pm. BYOB, be prepared to remove your shoes and also bring a blanket/pillows to get cozy on our soft yoga studio floor. YogaSix will be offering a free yoga class pass to each attendee. Come enjoy some live music with your West Seattle Yoga Community!
YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Presented by Inner Alchemy, 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR CONCERT: Northwest Boychoir‘s annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at Holy Rosary Church, 7 pm. Tickets here – some remained when we checked early this morning. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The Gai Family‘s Christmas display – retired in 1996 but brought back in 2019 – is aglow again as of tonight. And this year, there’s something new – here’s a closer look at the new custom-built setting for the Madonna that bakery co-owner Phil Gai built in the mid-’50s.
Phil and Dorothy Gai‘s son Ron Gai brought back the display, which drew visitors from all around for decades, 14 years after his dad’s 2005 death. You’re invited to go see it in the 3200 block of 36th SW [vicinity map].
Got – or seen – a special display? Email us, with or without photo(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com; see past spotlights here, and listed in our Holiday Guide!
SDOT finally has traffic cameras for Delridge Way. We noticed them appear on the SDOT Travelers’ Map recently, but at the time they were only partially functional – no default still image, only visible if you chose “video” from the map windows; they’ve since become fully functional. They’re at Genesee (above), Oregon (1st below), and Orchard (2nd below), and SDOT tells us four more are planned.
The next four, according to SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali, will be at “Delridge Way SW & SW Henderson St; Delridge Way SW & SW Holden Street; Delridge Way SW & SW Juneau St; and Delridge Way SW & SW Thistle Street.” She says they hope to have those cameras operational by early February.
Still no word on whether or when a few key cameras that have been down for months – such as Highland Park Way/Holden and the second camera atop the high bridge – will return. (We keep asking.)
If you like your music loud and electronic, the West Seattle band anMech might be for you. Band member Noah Schoenfeld emailed us because they’re proud that anMech has been chosen by rock radio 99.9 KISW as its “Loud and Local Band of the Week.” Noah explains that the band plays “a mixture or industrial, metal, and synth wave blended together into unique sound.” They released their first album “The Curse of Hope” on Halloween, “a full-length EP that was recorded this past summer.” anMech plays at venues around the area and Noah, a longtime Delridge resident, says they’re extra-excited to be playing West Seattle’s own Skylark next month – here’s the poster:
You can find more music from anMech – short for “animal mechanical” – on YouTube and Bandcamp. They even have merch.
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
ANOTHER CRASH-AND-GRAB BURGLARY: Five days after the crash-and-grab at Westwood Village‘s Big 5 store, a similar burglary happened early today at the Arrowhead Gardens mini-market El Quetzal (9240 2nd SW). After a reader tip, we went over and found the scene shown in our photo above. A member of the family that owns the store told us the entrance was so heavily damaged, they hadn’t been able to get inside to figure out what was taken. Police told them it likely happened around 5 am; the SPD call log on Twitter shows an alarm call received by 911 around quarter till 5. The store is closed until further notice. The SPD incident number is 2022-329753.
We also have three reader reports received in the past day-plus:
CAR STOLEN, THEN FOUND: This report is from Ray:
We had our 2016 Hyundai stolen from outside our Highland Park house (parked on the street) between 8 pm-10 pm (12/8). We were awakened by police at 2 am who found the car in North Delridge (a neighbor called in the missing car parked in their alley). The back window had been broken by a screwdriver and the ignition had been pulled out to hotwire the car. Just a heads up for other drivers in the area to continue to be cautious of what’s happening in the community.
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT ATTEMPT: This report is from William:
We live in the Fairmount Park area just a block from the Elementary School. (Friday) morning at 6:15 a large dark-colored pickup backed up to my Honda Element, which was parked in the driveway with the occupants clearly intending to steal the catalytic converter (this would be try #2). Fortunately my wife was sitting at the kitchen table, saw what was happening, ran outside and yelled at the guys, the scum took off but we were pretty surprised at the brazenness of this attempted theft at a pretty late hour of the morning.
PACKAGE SUBSTITUTION: Sindy in Highland Park had two packages taken on Wednesday and trash – including a fast-food receipt and vaping-cartridge box – left behind in their place. “Has anyone else in Highland Park been having similar issues? These were all supposed to be Christmas gifts.”
Santa photos are not just for kids! Everybody’s welcome to a selfie with Santa Claus at the West Seattle Junction Association‘s Hometown Holidays “Santa House” photo ops until 1 pm today. Three different settings await you in the ground-level corner space at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) – BYO camera/phone. Here’s the full list of Santa photo ops remaining this season (as listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide). Meantime, another major Hometown Holidays event happens tomorrow (Sunday, December 11th) – look for the WSJA booth at the south end of the Farmers’ Market (California/Oregon) to donate coats, get hot chocolate, and/or buy commemorative mugs and holiday garlands.
Today’s the last day to bid on that Noble Fir we told you about back on Monday – a West Seattle family is offering it to the top bidder to raise money for the Medic One Foundation, in memory of a family member and friend both lost in crashes last year. Two updates from the original call for bids – the tree is removable at 7′ than 8′ so you don’t have to have a mega-high ceiling, and they have the equipment to remove it, so it’s not a “bring your own saw” situation. Email your proposed bid amount to KimberlyMickelson@icloud.com by midnight tonight; they’ll notify the top bidder Sunday morning, with the tree available the same day. (Full details are here!)
(Harbor Seal photographed off Constellation Park on Friday by David Hutchinson)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
SANTA HOUSE IN THE JUNCTION: DIY photos with Santa 10 am-1 pm in the pop-up space on lower level of Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). Free – three different settings you can choose from!
GARDEN CENTER: Postponed from last Saturday – rare open day for the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Garden Center! 10 am-3 pm, north end of campus. (6000 16th SW)
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – full details in our calendar listing.
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Whether you’re planning to enroll a student at Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) or just starting your school research early, this chance to tour the school and meet staff is for you. (10015 28th SW)
COVID VACCINATIONS: Community pop-up clinic at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW), 11 am-4 pm, with walk-ins accepted – both vaccinations and boosters offered.
FIREFIGHTERS COLLECTING TOYS FOR TOTS: Bring new unwrapped toys to Westwood Village QFC (2600 SW Barton) noon-2 pm and meet Seattle firefighters!
PET SUPPLIES PLUS GRAND OPENING: Also at Westwood Village, the new shop celebrates its grand opening all weekend, starting with noon-2 pm festivities today including Beloveds Animal Rescue Relief Foundation:
GIFT-WRAP EVENT: Also with Beloveds, noon-4 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), “We are providing gift-wrapping services for a suggested donation to Beloveds Foundation. We will have some gift wrap, ribbon, etc., and folks can come by who are not customers of Meeples Games too!”
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP: Noon-4 pm, visit the gift shop at the home of local history, with a 50%-off sale on glass ornaments and books. (3003 61st SW)
WHITE CENTER SANTACON: 2-5 pm free family activities, then starting at 5 pm, a food/bar crawl requiring a wristband (as a fundraiser for WestSide Baby), all at multiple White Center/South Delridge venues – details here.
(added) NWAA HOLIDAY CONCERT: Chorus with members from West Seattle performs at 2 pm today and tomorrow at Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien (401 S. 152nd).
SANTA AT OUNCES: Santa at Ounces, 3-6 pm. Free DIY photos – people and/or pets. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
SANTA AT MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the famous light display for photos, 5-9 pm. Bring a donation of nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. (5605 Beach Drive SW)
MONKEYPOX (MPX) VACCINATIONS: 5-8 pm at Arthur’s (2311 California SW), those eligible can get a first or second shot, no appointment necessary.
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE: Third weekend for thousands of lights synched to music outside the Iversons‘ home on 38th SW between Genesee and Dakota – 6:30-10 pm.
BELLS OF THE SOUND: 7 pm concert with Puget Sound’s premier handbell choir at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW) – more info in our calendar listing.
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: At 7:30 pm, it’s the second night for the Twelfth Night Productions presentation of The Lux Radio Theater version of the classic 1947 film, performed at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – ticket info and other details on the TNP website.
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Tonight at 7:30 pm, it’s the next performance of “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
LAUGH IT UP: 9 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), it’s comedy night! $10.
Have something to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
5:23 PM: Seattle Police are on the scene of what they say was a fatal shooting in the 9200 block of 29th Avenue SW. We’re en route and will update when we find out more.
(WSB photos)
5:35 PM: Our crew says the victim is in a vehicle near the north entrance of the Roxhill Park parking lot. (photo added above) Also, police on the scene include Chief Adrian Diaz.
7:05 PM: Chief Diaz talked with us and other media at the scene, though he didn’t have many details yet. He said a nearby resident called 911 and police/fire found the victim – described only as male, age not yet known – in the vehicle.
He said officers have been talking with neighbors and looking for video. (He had no specific description to offer, but radio recordings include one officer telling dispatch that one residence’s video showed a silver sedan with five people.) He also talked about trends in general, saying that the rate of shootings in the city had been dropping for a few weeks until an uptick in recent days. He said West Seattle mirrored that trend and mentioned an arrest of one suspect believed responsible for multiple incidents in South Delridge (likely a reference to this case). If you have any information, the SPD tipline is 206-233-5000.
8:14 PM: This is the second West Seattle homicide case in five weeks; no arrest announced so far in the previous one, a man shot and killed in a Puget Ridge house in early November. It also is the third one this year; the first was in June, when a man was shot and killed in a tent in Delridge. That one did result in an arrest, and the suspect remains in jail awaiting trial.
4:12 PM: In her weekly newsletter/blog post, West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold just announced, “I will not be running for re-election in 2023.” She is completing her second term as the first-ever District 1 council representative, elected in 2015 and then re-elected in 2019. Herbold explains her decision in part as follows: “The 2022 elections last month were good for progressives. I feel like it’s time to do my part to create an open seat election in District 1. I believe that an open seat can better drive turnout and deliver District 1 to another progressive. … I love and honor the work the progressive left has done in Seattle and I don’t want to do anything that makes it less likely for a non-progressive to be elected to represent the great District 1. I will continue to represent and advocate for District 1 over the next year. We’ve still got a lot of work to do!” Starting with next year’s election, D-1 covers more ground, such as Georgetown and SODO, because of the recent redistricting. (WSB photo from pre-bridge-reopening event, September)
8:02 PM: We should note that – even before this – we’d been watching the state Public Disclosure Commission website, where campaigns are registered in the early stages, and to date no one has registered a D-1 campaign. As for whether anyone is inspired to jump in based on Herbold’s early announcement, we’ll see next week. We’ve sent inquiries to the two men who challenged Herbold in the 2019 primaries, Brendan Kolding and Phil Tavel, to see if either is considering running again.
10:02 PM: We’ve heard back from Tavel, who says:
I have never lost my desire to serve this city, and even before Lisa’s announcement, this was a topic of conversation at our family dinner table. I truly wish the best for Lisa Herbold and I thank her for her service. I will say that I have been humbled by the number of people who have reached out to me today to ask if I intend to run, or to encourage me to run. At this point, I have not made any official decisions. Stay tuned. I do hope for a warm, safe and joyous holiday season for everyone.
In 2015, Tavel finished third in a nine-candidate primary, behind Herbold and Shannon Braddock; in 2019, he made it to the general against Herbold, with 44% to her 56%.
ADDED 11:56 PM: We’ve also now heard back from Kolding, who says:
I ran for City Council in 2019 because I felt called to lead. Seattle was experiencing crises in the areas of homelessness and public safety and I sought to introduce a new approach to these issues. During the campaign, I was inspired by the support I received. Although I did not make it out of the primary, I established myself as a viable candidate. There are people in this community who look to me for leadership, and that is something I take very seriously.
The issues that inspired me to run four years ago remain. I am frustrated by the glacial pace at which our region is responding to the homelessness crisis. I am saddened by the SPD staffing crisis and have taken great offense to the manner in which some members of the Council have treated police officers over these last few years. I am also sensitive to the struggles our small business community has faced. I am committed to doing what I can to solve these issues. Whether that be by running for office in 2023 or by supporting another reasonable candidate remains to be seen. Either way, I will be actively involved with the next election and vocal in local media.
I wish Councilmember Herbold all the best in her future endeavors. She and I do not see eye-to-eye on much, but we hold and defend our values with equal fervor. The solution to the problems our city is facing is for people of differing ideologies to seek to understand each other and to collaborate for the common good.
That’s the chair awaiting Santa Claus at My Three Little Birds in The Junction, one of five places in West Seattle that you can catch up with the Jolly Ol’ Soul himself in the days and nights ahead. From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, here’s the list we have so far:
SANTA HOUSE IN THE JUNCTION, DECEMBER 10: DIY photos with Santa on Saturday, 10 am-1 pm in the pop-up space on lower level of Senior Center of West Seattle
(added) Above is a photo of one of the three selfie settings from which you’ll be able to choose! (California/Oregon)
OUNCES, DECEMBER 10: Santa at Ounces, 3-6 pm on Saturday. Free DIY photos – people and/or pets. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS, DECEMBER 10 AND 20: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the famous light display for photos, 5-9 pm Saturday. Bring a donation of nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. They’l be back 5-9 pm Tuesday, December 20th, with real reindeer. (5605 Beach Drive SW)
MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS, DECEMBER 11: 10 am-noon, Santa will be at this Junction shop. “No charge. Families can take their own photos. Please bring diapers for WestSide Baby if you wish to donate. We are also doing a diaper drive that day.” My Three Little Birds proprietor Jennifer Young adds, “Size 4, 5 and 6 diapers, and all Pull Ups sizes are needed most.” (4736 California SW)
HOLIDAY PHOTO POP-UP, VARIOUS DATES: Join Gail Ann Photography on six dates in December – two with Santa! – for holiday photos at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), including two with Santa Claus. Fee, part of which is a nonprofit donation. Full details and all dates/times are in our calendar listing.
Any others we haven’t heard about yet? Please email info so we can add to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The sign for Luna Park Café says “fall repairs and maintenance,” but that work will stretch into winter. Three months have passed since café proprietor John Bennett announced that the beloved restaurant would close temporarily for some work. This week a reader asked if we had any updates. So we checked in with Bennett, who replied:
Our original plan was to be closed for a couple of months to replace some equipment and do deep cleaning. Luna will be 34 years old in March and was in need of repairs. Once we got into it, one thing led to another and we are replacing more equipment and doing more repairs than we originally thought we would do (even the 1958 Seeburg jukebox had to go to the shop for a complete overhaul).
The good news is that Luna will stay the same with some improvements to the menu and upgraded tech systems. Even retro has to step into the 21st century eventually. The bad news is that it is taking a lot longer to get the equipment and do the work. We are estimating reopening in January or February 2023. We look forward to another 34 years!
Those three reasons are RSV, flu, and COVID-19. From today’s announcement:
Public Health – Seattle & King Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin joins other local health officers and health care leaders in recommending masking in indoor public spaces and other prevention measures given the high level of respiratory viruses circulating and stress on hospitals.
Communities across our state and around the U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19. As health officers and health-care leaders working to improve the health of Washington residents, we recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when around others in indoor spaces to protect against both acquiring and spreading these infections to others.
We also urge everyone who is eligible to stay up to date on your vaccinations. Vaccinations are the most important way to protect against severe influenza and COVID-19 infections, including hospitalization and death. Everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated against these diseases and those who are eligible for an updated COVID-19 booster should get it now.
Other necessary strategies include:
-Staying home from work and school and testing for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms.
-Having a plan for rapid treatment for COVID-19 and influenza for people who are at increased risk for severe infections.
-Improving indoor air quality through ventilation, filtration, and UV technology where appropriate.We expect the flu to circulate for months, so now is the time to get your flu shot!
You can see the full announcement – including the list of local health officers and health-care-organization leaders who have signed on to the recommendation – by going here.
No, that’s not leftover snow/frost in Rosalie Miller‘s photo. It’s “the plasmodium stage of a slime mold. You can just make out some of the circular structures which are the fruiting bodies and these will become more distinct and colorful over time.” So look closely in our forests – you never know what you’ll see! Meantime, on a larger scale, here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Friday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide (where you’ll find lots of other seasonal info too):
CAT/KITTEN ADOPTION: 2-4 pm at Pet Elements (6511 California SW), Beloveds Animal Relief Rescue Foundation can introduce you to cats/kittens looking for their forever homes.
HOLIDAY NIGHT MARKET: 4-9 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
HOLIDAY MUSIC WITH TOM HUTYLER: At the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon), 6 pm, “the Voice of the Mariners” sings holiday music for you.
(added) LAFAYETTE CRAFT FAIR: At the school (2645 California SW):
Lafayette Elementary School invites the Community back to this spectacular event! From 6:30-8:00pm tonight, Friday, December 9th, the school will host its annual Craft Fair! 40 participants have signed up to sell their homemade crafts; there will also be a Gingerbread House making station, popcorn and hot chocolate, gift wrapping by the Lafayette Leopards, and festive decorations! New this year – Carolers! The Dickens Carolers will be outside the entry under the festive décor singing wintry tunes. Crafts will be mostly cash only, so please come prepared!! We can’t wait to see you, West Seattle!
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE: Third weekend begins for thousands of lights synched to music outside a home on 38th SW between Genesee and Dakota – 6:30-10 pm.
(added) SEATTLE METROPOLITAN SINGERS: Another concert tonight:
Seattle Metropolitan Singers Winter Concert
Friday 12/9 7-8 pm
Alki United Church of Christ/Kol HaNeshamah Synagogue
6115 SW Hinds
Treats to follow!
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: One more WSCO holiday concert, free admission (“donations gratefully accepted”) – Symphony Orchestra featuring cello soloist Alistair MacRae at 7 pm, at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle).
THE STARRY CROWNS: Holiday concert at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 7 pm. (7000 35th SW)
WARTUX: Live at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), with Swinson and The Expedition plus The Loveless Building. Doors at 7, music at 8.
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: At 7:30 pm, it’s opening night for the Twelfth Night Productions presentation of The Lux Radio Theater version of the classic 1947 film, performed at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – ticket info and other details on the TNP website.
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Tonight at 7:30 pm, it’s your next chance to see “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
BURLESQUE/CABARET: “Morbid Curiositease” returns to 2 Fingers Social (9211 Delridge Way SW), 9 pm. Info including the ticket link is in our calendar listing.
Have something to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:39 AM: Southern Resident Killer Whales are in central Puget Sound again today. Kersti Muul reports they’re “spread from Wing Point to the north tip of Bainbridge,” traveling southbound. Let us know if you see them!
10:13 AM: Kersti says the leaders are passing Alki Point; we’ve also just gotten a call from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales who says they’re south of Alki Point and easy to see.
10:46 AM: More updates in comments – thank you!
11:20 AM: Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail called to say the second group is between Bainbridge and Blake Islands.
Just got word of another monkeypox vaccination event in West Seattle this weekend, for those who meet current eligibility criteria. Like the one in October, this is happening at Arthur’s (2311 California SW). First and second shots of the vaccine will be available 5-8 pm Saturday (December 10). No appointment needed – just show up. If you can’t get to this, watch here for other vaccination opportunities.
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, December 9th.
WEATHER
Today’s forecast is a lot like yesterday – some rain expected, high in the 40s.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is still down buses for repairs, so keep a close watch on channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions. If routes are suspended again, here’s Metro advice on alternatives.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule this morning.
-WSF’s Triangle Route is too – check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: The south route.
Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
(WSB photo, June 2020)
9:20 PM: Two and a half years ago, a police investigation along the West Seattle shore became national news, after it was revealed that teenagers had found body parts in a suitcase near Luna/Anchor Park and posted about their discovery on social media. The victims were eventually identified as 35-year-old Jessica Lewis and 27-year-old Austin Wenner, who had been renting a room at the Burien home of the man subsequently charged with their murder, Michael L. Dudley, now 64. He was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting the victims to death and dumping their dismembered bodies in Elliott Bay and the Duwamish River. Dudley has been on trial in King County Superior Court, where this afternoon the jury announced their verdict: Guilty, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The verdict documents aren’t in the online files yet but we expect to get them tomorrow. Dudley has a felony record from the 1990s.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: The charges were revised in September to four counts of second-degree murder, though there were two victims, Dudley was found guilty on all four counts, including the added circumstance of having used a gun. We asked KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney about the four counts. He explains, “The four charges involved two different theories of murder. Those theories are intentional murder in the second degree and felony murder in the second degree. To make it easier to understand, prosecutors charged those in separate counts. Count 1 and 2 were charges of intentional murder in the second degree, one for each victim. Count 3 and 4 were charges of felony murder in the second degree, one for each victim.” But when Dudley is sentenced, he will be sentenced for two counts, McNerthney adds.
6:39 PM: Santa is on the move in The Junction, part of the holiday enhancements for this month’s West Seattle Art Walk. He and The Silver Belles are circulating in The Junction until 8 pm, and that’s just part of what’s happening around the peninsula tonight, as previewed here (follow that link for the list/map and more) – updates to come!
6:59 PM: In north Morgan Junction, Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is hosting painter Kevin Ducoing:
As noted in our preview, his recent work focuses on neighborhood trees.
7:30 PM: Another highlighted stop tonight, Canna West Culture Shop (5435 California SW), where you can meet prolific painter Desmond Hansen:
Back in The Junction, we also caught up with the spicy caroling of The Silver Belles:
In The Junction, next Hometown Holidays events are this weekend – Santa is at California/Oregon for DIY photos 10 am-1 pm Saturday, and you can get hot cocoa, donate a coat, and buy mugs and garlands at the Junction Association booth at the Farmers’ Market 10 am-2 pm.
5:31 PM: Thanks for the tip. Avoid Alki Avenue at 53rd SW – sizable SPD/SFD response for a collision. More info to come.
5:47 PM: Our crew just arrived and the scene has already cleared. The incident log suggests someone is being transported to the hospital, though, so we have an inquiry out to SFD.
8:45 PM: SFD says a 70-year-old man was hurt in what “was reported as a vehicle/pedestrian collision.” He was in stable condition when taken to Harborview Medical Center.
(Beach Drive stretch of Alki Point ‘Healthy Street,’ photographed Saturday by Don Brubeck)
If you have something to say about the city’s “early design” proposals for the Alki Point “Healthy Street” – Beach Drive and Alki Avenue north of 63rd SW – the deadline is tomorrow (Friday) night. The city’s reminder summarizes: “We need your feedback on the design and project elements, including signs, landscaping, travel lanes, and traffic-calming tools like traffic circles and curb bulbs. While people can still drive on the Alki Point Healthy Street, the design has elements to discourage cut-through traffic and help keep the street safer for all users. This includes adding traffic circles, speed humps, bike lane markings, painted curb bulbs, vehicle turn-around areas, and crosswalk improvements. We’re also prioritizing ADA parking and loading zone areas for people kayaking, paddleboarding, and doing other water activities.” If you haven’t already seen the design proposals (WSB coverage here), go to this page. To comment by midnight tomorrow night, there’s an online form, or you can email AlkiKeepMovingStreet@seattle.gov or leave voicemail at 206-727-3565. The city announced in October that the “Healthy Street” status was permanent.
Two notes about local athletic fields:
NINO CANTU SOUTHWEST ATHLETIC COMPLEX: Nearby resident David tipped us to work under way on the ball fields. Since NCSWAC is a Seattle Public Schools facility, we asked SPS about it. Spokesperson Tim Robinson replied, “Baseball field netting is being installed to prevent foul balls from landing in neighboring yards. The work should be complete by December 23.”
We found this rendering for the project online.
FREE FIELDS: Seattle Parks announced this week that some of its synthetic athletic fields around the city will be open through the end of February for free drop-in play; using them would normally require a paid reservation. Delridge, Hiawatha, and Walt Hundley Playfields in West Seattle are on the list; available hours/days for each field can be seen here.
The photo and report are from Bradley:
My brother-in-law’s pickup was stolen from in front of our house last night in north Admiral. It is a lifted, white Ford F350 with rear window sticker on left side that says “existence” and right-side sticker says “rapid firearms.” Also has a yellow “CAT” sticker on the tailgate. Last seen on Delridge around 10am pulling an open cargo trailer with a spare tire. If you see it, please notify the police.
Plate number is C61282Y. We’ll add the police-report number when we get it. (Added: 2022-327908.)
12/18 UPDATE: Brad says the truck’s been found in Shoreline.
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